Image processing apparatus, method thereof, and recording medium

ABSTRACT

An image processing apparatus includes an image file creation unit, a storage control unit, an extracting unit, and a display controller. The image file creation unit is configured to create a file including a plurality of images, first management information indicating a specified Exif version, and second management information including an image size and a total number of the images in the file. The storage control unit is configured to store the image file in a storage. The extraction unit is configured to extract the image from the image file in the storage based on the second management information. The display controller is configured to display the image on a display.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.10/743,082, filed Dec. 23, 2003, and is based upon and claims thebenefit of priority from prior Japanese Patent Application No.2003-013684, filed Jan. 22, 2003, the entire contents of each of whichare incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, a methodthereof, and a recording medium. More specifically, the presentinvention relates to an image processing apparatus, a method thereof,and a recording medium capable of extracting an intended small imagefrom a single composite image comprising a plurality of small associatedimages, e.g., captured by a digital still camera.

2. Description of Related Art

With the spread of digital still cameras in recent years, it has been afrequent practice to connect the digital still camera to a printer via acable or a personal computer and print captured images.

Some digital still cameras combine captured images for printing (seeJP-A No. 341406/1990).

Some digital still cameras can create and record a single compositeimage from a series of small captured images that are associated witheach other. The small images can be sequentially extracted from therecorded image data for reproduction. In this manner, there is provideda simple way of recording and reproducing motion pictures.

However, the above-mentioned composite image is printed out as a seriesof small images like an index print.

The composite image is displayed as a series of small images on ascreen. The composite image is a single image file as data though thecomposite image seems to comprise a plurality of image files.Accordingly, it has been impossible to either extract or print anintended small image from the composite image created as a single imagefile.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in consideration of the foregoing.It is therefore an object of the present invention to be able to extractan intended small image from a single composite image comprising aplurality of small associated images captured by the digital stillcamera.

In a first aspect of the present invention, an image processingapparatus comprises: a creation means for creating one composite imagefrom an arrangement of a plurality of associated captured small images;a display control means for controlling display of the composite image;and an extraction means for extracting a specified small image from thecomposite image whose display is controlled by the display controlmeans.

In a second aspect of the present invention, the image processingapparatus of the first aspect may further comprise a storage means forstoring the composite image created by the creation means.

In a third aspect of the present invention, the image processingapparatus of the second aspect may further comprise a determinationmeans for determining whether or not the specified small image isselected from the composite image whose display is controlled by thedisplay control means, wherein, when the determination means determinesthat the specified small image is selected, the extraction meansextracts data corresponding to the specified small image from thecomposite image stored in the storage means.

In a fourth aspect of the present invention, the image processingapparatus of the first aspect may further comprise a print instructionmeans for transmitting the small image extracted by the extraction meansto an image print apparatus and instructing to start printing.

A fifth aspect of the present invention resides in a method of imageprocessing which comprises the steps of: creating one composite imagefrom an arrangement of a plurality of associated captured small images;controlling display of the composite image; and extracting a specifiedsmall image from the composite image whose display is controlled by thedisplay control step.

A sixth aspect of the present invention resides in a program recorded ona recording medium allows a computer to perform the steps of: creatingone composite image from an arrangement of a plurality of associatedcaptured small images; controlling display of the composite image; andextracting a specified small image from the composite image whosedisplay is controlled by the display control step.

The present invention aims at arranging a plurality of associatedcaptured small images to create one composite image and extracting aspecified small image from the composite image.

Other and further objects, features and advantages of the invention willappear more fully from the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of an automatic print systemaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows an electrical configuration example of a digital stillcamera;

FIG. 3 shows an example of a composite image;

FIG. 4 diagrams an image file format;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an image composition process;

FIG. 6 schematically shows a process of storing small images;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a process of extracting a composite image;

FIG. 8 schematically shows a process of extracting small images; and

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a process of printing an extracted image.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in further detailwith reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of an automatic print systemaccording to the present invention. In this system, a digital stillcameral is connected to a printer 3 via a cable 2 compliant with IEEE(Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 1394, USB (UniversalSerial Bus), and the like.

The digital still camera 1 captures an object, displays the object'simage on an LCD (liquid crystal display) as shown in FIG. 2, and recordsthe image as image data on a recording medium 33 (FIG. 2). The printer 3is supplied with the image data from the digital still camera 1 via thecable 2 and prints out the image data.

When the digital still camera 1 and the printer are connected to eachother via the cable 2, a negotiation is performed to check whether ornot both devices have the DPS (direct print service) function.Communication becomes available when both are identified to beelectronic devices having the DPS function.

The DPS standard is an application-level standard for directlyconnecting a digital still camera and a printer and easily providing aprintout capability. The DPS standard is independent of physicalinterfaces or a specific transport layer and is expandable to the othertransport layers.

As features of the DPS standard, a user can easily print images. Inaddition, the printout is available between DPS-compatible devicesconnected with each other independently of manufacturers and models.

It may be preferable to allow the digital still camera 1 and the printer3 to connect and communicate with each other using not only a wiredmeans such as the cable 2, but also so-called wireless LANs such asIEEE802.11a and IEEE802.11b and Bluetooth (registered trademark).

FIG. 2 shows an electrical configuration example of a digital stillcamera.

A lens block 11 supplies light (i.e., object's image) to a CCD (ChargeCoupled Devices) 12. The CCD 12 converts the received light's intensityinto an electrical signal and outputs it to a camera signal processingsection 13.

The camera signal processing section 13 receives the electrical signalfrom the CCD 12, converts this signal into color difference signals Y,Cr, and Cb, and output them to an image signal processing section 14.Under control of a controller 21, the image signal processing section 14receives the image signals from the camera signal processing section 13and supplies them to DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) 18 via a bus17. The DRAM 18 temporarily stores the image signals. Further, the imagesignal processing section 14 reads the image signals from the DRAM 18,wherein the image signals are converted to an image size of an LCD 16 bythe controller 21. The image signal processing section 14 superposesdata input from an on-screen display (OSD) 20 on the read-out imagesignals and output them to an RGB decoder 15.

The RGB decoder 15 receives the image signals from the image signalprocessing section 14 and converts them into RGB signals, and outputsthem to the LCD 16. The LCD 16 displays an image corresponding to theRGB signals supplied from the RGB decoder 15.

Under control of the controller 21, the on-screen display 20 outputsdata to the image signal processing section 14 via the bus 17. At thistime, the output data includes menu screens and icons comprisingsymbols, characters, and graphics.

The controller 21 executes various processes based on signals indicatinguser's instructions entered from an operation section 22. The controller21 also controls the image signal processing section 14, the DRAM 18, anexternal interface 19, the on-screen display 20, and a media drive 23via the bus 17. FLASH ROM 24 stores programs needed for the controller21 to execute various processes.

When a shutter button is operated on the operation section 22, thecontroller 21 controls the image signal processing section 14 and storesa screenful of image signal in the DRAM 18. After the image signal isstored in the DRAM 18, the controller 21 compresses the image signal inan compressed format such as JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group).The controller 21 stores the image signal at a different address of theDRAM 18, provides a file header and the like, and streams the imagesignal to a JPEG file.

The compression format for image signals is not limited to JPEG. Theother available formats may include TIFF (Tagged Image File Format),MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group), and the like.

When the operation section 22 issues a command to start printing animage, the controller reads image data from the DRAM 18 and transmitsthe image data via the bus 17 to the printer 3 connected to the externalinterface 19.

The recording medium 33 comprises, e.g., semiconductor memory andcontains nonvolatile memory capable of electrically writing and erasingdata, making it possible to write and read various data such as imagesand sounds. The recording medium 33 is inserted into the media drive 23as needed so as to permanently record data (image files) temporarilystored in the DRAM 18 or to read the saved data.

The external interface 19 comprises, e.g., a USB input/output terminaland is connected to the printer 3 for printing images. The externalinterface 19 is connected to a drive 31 as needed for mounting aremovable medium 32 such as magnetic disk, optical disk, andmagnet-optical disk. A computer program can be read from the removablemedia and is installed into the FLASH ROM 24 as needed.

The following describes basic operations of the digital still camera 1.

The light (object's image) supplied to the lens block 11 enters the CCD12 and is converted into an electrical signal there. The convertedelectrical signal is further converted into Y, Cr, and Cb colordifference signals in the camera signal processing section 13. The colordifference signals travel through the image signal processing section 14and the bus 17, and then enter the DRAM 18 to be expanded and storedtemporarily.

After the image signal is temporarily stored in the DRAM 18, thecontroller 21 changes the image signal to such an image size as to bedisplayed on the LCD 16. The changed image signal is re-stored at adifferent address of the DRAM 18. The image signal processing section 14reads the image signal and outputs it to the RGB decoder 15. The signalis converted into an RGB signal and then is output to the LCD 16. Inthis manner, the LCD 16 displays the object's realtime image, i.e., amonitoring image.

For example, a user operates the shutter button of the operation section22 at a specified timing. In this case, the controller 21 reads an imagesignal temporarily stored in the DRAM 18. The controller 21 compressesthe image signal using the JPEG format and then stores the compressedimage signal at a different address of the DRAM 18. Further, thecontroller 21 provides the stored image signal with a file header andthe like to stream the image signal to a JPEG file. The controller 21reads this JPEG file and transfers it to the recording medium 33inserted into the media drive 23 via the bus 17. The JPEG file ispermanently stored in the recording medium 33.

In this manner, one image is recorded as one piece of image data on therecording medium 33.

For example, a user operates the operation section 22 to reproduce(display) an image stored in the recording medium 33. In this case, thecontroller transfers the image file stored in the recording medium 33 tothe DRAM 18 via the bus 17. The controller 21 loads the data anddecompresses the compressed file and stores it at a different address ofthe DRAM 18. After the decompression, the controller 21 controls theimage signal processing section 14 to read the image data stored in theDRAM 18. The image signal processing section 14 superposes data inputfrom the on-screen display 20 on the read-out image data and outputs itto the LCD 16 via the RGB decoder 15.

In this manner, image data stored in the recording medium 33 isdisplayed on the LCD 16.

For example, a user operates the operation section 22 to selected afeature called multiple continuous mode to continuously capture a seriesof images at a specified time interval . In this case, the DRAM 18temporarily stores a series of associated captured image signals. Thecontroller 21 reads these signals, reduces them to an intended smallimage size, and sequentially stores them in the DRAM 18. That image sizecorresponds to the predetermined number of horizontal and verticalpixels. The detail will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

In this manner, as shown in FIG. 3, the DRAM 18 contains one compositeimage that is created from the sequentially captured image signals andcomprises a plurality of orderly arranged small images. According to theexample in FIG. 3, one composite image comprises 1280 horizontal pixelsand 960 vertical pixels. Since there are 16 small images disposed, eachsmall image sizes up to 320 horizontal pixels and 240 vertical pixels.When creating the composite image, the controller 21 generatesmanagement information including information about the small image size,i.e., the number of horizontal and vertical pixels. The managementinformation is stored in the image file header.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the following describes a format for imagefiles stored in the DRAM 18. FIG. 4 shows a predetermined image filestructure called Exif (Exchange Image File) format.

FIG. 4A shows an entire structure of one image file. The image file hasan SOF (start-of-frame) marker indicating the start of the image fileand an EOF (end-of-frame) marker indicating the end thereof. The imagedata contains data for the compressed image signal to the EOF markerbetween the SOF and EOF markers. Any information is assigned to a headerat the beginning of the image file.

FIG. 4B shows a structure of APP1, i.e., one type of informationprovided in the header of the image file. As shown in FIG. 4B, an APP1marker is provided at the beginning of the APP1 information and isfollowed by an APP1 data length and an Exif identifier. There is alsoprovided Exif IFD that is actual Exif data. At the end of APP1, there isprovided so-called thumbnail data, i.e., a reduced version of theabove-mentioned image signal.

FIG. 4C shows an Exif IFD structure. As shown in FIG. 4C, the Exif IFDbegins with Tag Entry, i.e., management information indicatingbeginnings of a plurality of Tags. The Tag Entry information is followedby first information Tag1 indicating a specified Exif version. Inaddition, there are provided various types of information includingMaker Note Tag. This information indicates that there is informationspecifically defined by a device manufacturer. The Maker Note Taginformation indicates where the actual management information isdescried.

The Maker Note Tag points to second management information originallyprovided by each device manufacturer. That is to say, the secondmanagement information is provided by specifying an address of aspecified data area (Exif Value Data) in the Exif IFD structure. Thesecond management information can have any data structure, e.g., astructure as shown in FIG. 4D to inherit the Exif IFD structure.

The second management information's data structure begins withinformation such as a manufacturer name, a device name, and the like.This information indicates whether or not the device can uniquely usethe second management information provided by specifying the address.The information such as a manufacturer name, a device name, etc . isfollowed by Tag Entry, i.e., management information indicatingbeginnings of a plurality of Tags, and then by various managementinformation (Tag1, Tag2, and so on).

These pieces information include: Multi-Image Mode Tag to indicate thatthe image data comprises a plurality of images; Multi-Image HorizontalSize Tag to indicate the number of pixels along the horizontal directionof an small image; and Multi-Image Vertical Size Tag to indicate thenumber of pixels along the vertical direction of an small image.

According to the specified Exif IFD structure, each Tag has a 4-bytedata area. This area can be used to describe any numeric data.

In this manner, a plurality of associated small images is disposed togenerate one composite image. The header of the composite image has themanagement information about the small images. The managementinformation can store any information needed. This information can beused to flexibly determine the size of small images, the total number ofsmall images to be reproduced sequentially, and the like.

With reference to a flowchart in FIG. 5, the following describes animage composition process in the multiple continuous mode according tothe present invention. This process starts when a user operates theoperation section 22 to enable the multiple continuous mode.

At step S1, the controller 21 controls the camera signal processingsection 13 to convert an electrical signal supplied from the CCD 12 intoY, Cr, and Cb color difference signals. The controller 21 then controlsthe image signal processing section 14 to supply the converted imagesignal to the DRAM 18 via the bus 17. The DRAM 18 temporarily stores theimage signal.

At step S2, the controller 21 reads the image signal temporarily storedin the DRAM 18. The controller 21 then changes the frame (vertical andhorizontal sizes) to an image size capable of displaying thepredetermined images on the LCD 16. After the frame of the image signalis changed at step S2, the controller 21, at step S3, re-stores thisimage signal at a different address of the DRAM 18.

FIG. 6 schematically shows a process of storing small images in the DRAM18 in this case. The example shows that there are disposed nine smallimages, i.e., three by three vertically and horizontally. Forconvenience of description, the small images are numbered from 1 to 9.Pixel data for the small images are stored at specified addresses of theDRAM 18 so as to create a single composite image 50 from these ninesmall images. Each small image comprises m pixels horizontally and npixels vertically. The following description uses the notation (m, n) torepresent pixel data at the mth pixel horizontally and at the nth pixelvertically.

The first row of the number-1 small image contains pixel data (1, 1),(2, 1), . . . , and (m, 1). These data are stored at address adr 11 ofthe DRAM 18. The second row of the number-1 small image contains pixeldata (1, 2), (2, 2), . . . , and (m, 2). These data are stored ataddress adr 21 of the DRAM 18. Likewise, pixel data on the third row andlater in the number-1 small image are sequentially stored at thecorresponding addresses of the DRAM 18. The last row of the number-1small image is the nth row that contains pixel data (1, n), (2, n), . .. , and (m, n). These data are stored at address adr n1 of the DRAM 18.

The first row of the number-2 small image contains pixel data (1, 1),(2, 1), . . . , and (m, 1). These data are stored at address adr 12 ofthe DRAM 18. Likewise, pixel data on the second to the nth rows in thenumber-2 small image are sequentially stored at the correspondingaddresses of the DRAM 18.

This storing process is performed for the number-3 through number-9small images.

At step S4, the controller 21 determines whether or not a specifiednumber of images (nine images in the example of FIG. 6) are stored. Whenit is determined that a specified number of images are not stored yet,the controller 21 returns step Si and repeats the above-mentionedprocess.

Repeating the process from steps S1 through S3 creates one compositeimage 50 comprising a plurality of small images (nine images in theexample of FIG. 6) to be stored ion the DRAM 18.

The management information (FIG. 4D) is provided in the image fileheader for the composite image 50. The management information stores thesmall image size (the number of horizontal and vertical pixels), thetotal number of small images (nine in this example), and the like. Themanagement information can be used to extract an intended image from onecomposite image 50 comprising a plurality of images. The detail will bedescribed later with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8.

When it is determined at step S4 that a specified number of images arestored, the process advances to step S5. The controller 21 reads thecomposite image signal (the composite image 50 in the example of FIG. 6)temporarily stored in the DRAM 18. The controller 21 compresses theimage signal in JPEG format, and then stores it at a different addressof the DRAM 18. Further, the controller 21 provides the stored imagesignal with a file header and the like to stream the image signal to aJPEG file . The controller 21 reads this JPEG file and transfers it tothe recording medium 33 inserted into the media drive 23 via the bus 17.The JPEG file is permanently stored in the recording medium 33.

The process at step S5 is not always performed. This process isperformed when a user operates the operation section 22 to store thecomposite image 50 on a recording medium.

In this manner, it is possible to create one composite image comprisingassociated small images by streaming and storing pixel data for aplurality of the small images in the DRAM 18.

Referring now to the flowchart in FIG. 7, the following describes how toextract an intended image from the composite image created by theabove-mentioned image composition process. This process is performedafter the image composition process in FIG. 6 or when a user operatesthe operation section 22 to display (reproduce) the composite image.

At step S11, the controller 21 determines whether or not the DRAM 18stores the composite image file to be read. When it is determined thatthe DRAM 18 stores the composite image file, the process advances tostep S12. The controller 21 reads the composite image file from the DRAM18 via the bus 17.

When it is determined at step S11 that the composite image file to beread is not stored in the DRAM 18, i.e., in the recording medium 33, theprocess advances to step S13. The controller 21 reads the compositeimage file from the recording medium 33 via the bus 17. At step S14, thecontroller 21 stores the composite image file in the DRAM 18.

At step S15, the controller 21 determines whether or not the readcomposite image file is compressed. When it is determined that the readcomposite image file is compressed, the process advances to step S16.The controller 21 incorporates data from the DRAM 18 and decompressesthe compressed file. At step S17, the controller 21 stores the file at adifferent address of the DRAM 18.

When it is determined that the read composite image file is notcompressed, the process advances to step S18.

At step S18, the controller 21 controls the image signal processingsection 14 to read the image file stored in the DRAM 18 and output it tothe LCD 16 via the RGB decoder 15. In this manner, the LCD 16 displaysthe composite image 50 as shown in FIG. 6.

When the user operates the operation section 22 at step S19, thecontroller 21 determines whether or not the image to be extracted isselected. The controller 21 waits until the image to be extracted isselected. To select an image, for example, the LCD 16 needs to displaythe composite image 50 comprising an arrangement of small images. Inthis state, the user moves a cursor to an intended image, and thenpresses a decision button (not shown).

The process at step S19 is described in such a way that the subsequentprocess is not performed until an image to be extracted is not selected.Of course, the display of the composite image 50 may terminate withoutselecting any image to be extracted.

When it is determined at step S19 that the image to be extracted isselected, the process advances to step S20. The controller 21 extractsdata for the selected one of small images from the composite image filestored in the DRAM 18. When an image is selected, the cursor position onthe screen is used to determine the storage location of the selectedsmall image in the DRAM 18. Pixel data for the selected small image isread from the specified address of the DRAM 18 based on the small imagesize (the number of horizontal and vertical pixels) stored in themanagement information provided for the composite image file header.

FIG. 8 schematically shows a process of extracting small images from theDRAM 18 in this example . The DRAM 18 stores streams of pixel data for aplurality of small images as mentioned above with reference to FIG. 6.The following describes extraction of the number-1 small image.

The first row of the number-1 small image contains pixel data (1,1),(2,1), . . . , and (m, 1). These data are read from address adr 11 ofthe DRAM 18 . The second row of the number-1 small image contains pixeldata (1,2), (2,2), . . . , and (m, 2). These data are read from addressadr 21 of the DRAM 18. Likewise, pixel data on the third row and laterin the number-1 small image are sequentially read from the correspondingaddresses of the DRAM 18. The last row of the number-1 small image isthe nth row that contains pixel data (1, n), (2, n), . . . , and (m, n).These data are read from address adr n1 of the DRAM 18.

It is possible to read pixel data for the intended image from the DRAM18 by incrementing addresses and extract a small image 60.

At step S21, the controller 21 interpolates the extracted small image 60to change the frame to a size equivalent to a full screen. At step S22,the controller 21 stores the extracted image with the changed frame inthe DRAM 18. As needed, the controller 21 can read the extracted imagefrom the DRAM 18, compress it in JPEG format. When the recording medium33 is inserted into the media drive 23, the compressed image can betransferred to the recording medium 33 and stored there permanently.

In this manner, it is possible to extract an intended image from onecomposite image comprising an arrangement of associated small images.

The following describes a print process for extracted images withreference to the flowchart in FIG. 9.

At step S31, the controller 21 determines whether or not the externalinterface 19 is connected to the printer 3. The controller 21 waitsuntil it is ensured that the external interface 19 is connected to theprinter 3.

When it is determined that the external interface 19 is connected to theprinter, the process advances to step S32. The controller 21communicates with the printer 3. When the digital still camera 1 and theprinter 3 both have the DPS function, for example, they can identifythat both support the DPS function by exchanging the DPS definition filetherebetween, i.e., by negotiating with each other. Thereafter, thecontroller 21 confirms the DPS service of the printer 3 and collects theprinter information.

At step S33, the controller 21 determines whether or not the useroperates the operation section 22 and selects an image to be printedfrom the composite image. The controller 21 waits until an image to beprinted is selected.

When it is determined at step S33 that an image to be printed isselected, the process advances to step S34 to perform the imageextraction process in FIG. 7. The process at step S34 extracts theselected image and stores it in the DRAM 18. At step S35, the controllertransmits the extracted image to the printer 3 via the externalinterface 19 to start printing.

Conventionally, a so-called index print has been used to print a singlecomposite image comprising a plurality of small images captured in themultiple continuous mode. The index print needs to print an arrangementof associated small images on a single sheet of print paper. Asmentioned above, however, it is possible to extract an intended smallimage and print only that extracted image on a single sheet of printpaper.

While there has been described to select one of small images from thecomposite image, it is obviously possible to select two or more smallimages.

It is possible to use the hardware or software to perform a series ofthe above-mentioned processes. When the software is used to perform aseries of the processes, a program for the software is installed to acomputer from a network or a storage medium. At this time, the computermay be installed in special hardware. Alternatively, the computer may bea general-purpose personal computer capable of performing variousfunctions by installing various programs.

As shown in FIG. 2, the storage medium is supplied to users forproviding the program independently of the apparatus. The storage mediumfor recording the program is available as the removable medium 32 suchas magnetic disks including flexible disks, optical disks includingCD-ROM (Compact Disc-Read Only Memory), DVD (Digital Versatile Disc, ormagnet-optical disks including MD (Mini-Disc, registered trademark), oris available as the recording medium 33 such as semiconductor memory. Inaddition, the storage medium for recording the program is supplied tousers as a component preinstalled in the apparatus such as the FLASH ROM24 or a hard disk.

In this specification, the above-mentioned steps to describe a programto be recorded on the recording medium include not only processes thatare performed chronologically along the specified sequence, but alsoprocesses that are performed concurrently or individually.

In this specification, the system represents the entire apparatuscomprising a plurality of apparatuses.

As mentioned above, the present invention can compose images captured bya digital still camera. More particularly, the present invention canextract an intended small image from a single composite image comprisinga plurality of small associated images captured by the digital stillcamera.

The foregoing invention has been described in terms of preferredembodiments. However, those skilled, in the art will recognize that manyvariations of such embodiments exist. Such variations are intended to bewithin the scope of the present invention and the appended claims.

1. An image processing apparatus comprising: image file creation meansfor creating a file including a plurality of images, first managementinformation indicating a specified Exif version, and second managementinformation including an image size and a total number of the images inthe file; storage control means for storing the image file in a storage;extraction means for extracting the image from the image file in thestorage based on the second management information; and display controlmeans for displaying the image on a display.
 2. The image processingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first management informationincludes a plurality of tags, the first tag being the specified Exifversion.
 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, whereinthe second management information includes a multi-image mode tag whichindicates that the image data includes the plurality of images.
 4. Theimage processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the firstmanagement information is an Exif IFD structure.
 5. The image processingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second managementinformation is not an Exif IFD structure.
 6. An image processingapparatus comprising: an image file creation unit configured to create afile including a plurality of images, first management informationindicating a specified Exif version, and second management informationincluding an image size and a total number of the images in the file; astorage control unit configured to store the image file in a storage; anextraction unit configured to extract the image from the image file inthe storage based on the second management information; and a displaycontroller configured to display the image on a display.
 7. The imageprocessing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the first managementinformation includes a plurality of tags, the first tag being thespecified Exif version.
 8. The image processing apparatus according toclaim 6, wherein the second management information includes amulti-image mode tag which indicates that the image data includes theplurality of images.
 9. The image processing apparatus according toclaim 6, wherein the first management information is an Exif IFDstructure.
 10. The image processing apparatus according to claim 6,wherein the second management information is not an Exif IFD structure.11. An image processing method comprising: creating a file including aplurality of images, first management information indicating a specifiedExif version, and second management information including an image sizeand a total number of the images in the file; storing the image file ina storage; extracting the image from the image file in the storage basedon the second management information; and displaying the image on adisplay.
 12. The image processing method according to claim 11, whereinthe first management information includes a plurality of tags, the firsttag being the specified Exif version.
 13. The image processing methodaccording to claim 11, wherein the second management informationincludes a multi-image mode tag which indicates that the image dataincludes the plurality of images.
 14. The image processing methodaccording to claim 11, wherein the first management information is anExif IFD structure.
 15. The image processing method according to claim11, wherein the second management information is not an Exif IFDstructure.